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Showers Pass Trailhead Bamboo-Merino Hoodie review

Portland, Oregon based Showers Pass is a small company who make active apparel for people who like to hike, bike and enjoy the outdoors in clothing that will keep them dry and warm without a lot of bulk. They asked if I would like to take a look at their Trailhead Bamboo-Merino Hoodie which I’ve been enjoying for a couple weeks. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The Trailhead Bamboo-Merino Hoodie from Showers Pass is a lightweight long sleeved base layer top that is made of 50/50 bamboo and Merino wool and is available in both men and women’s sizes and styles.

Design and features

When Showers Pass first asked me to choose a color and size, I asked for the small men’s Trailhead hoodie because I liked the quarter zip on the front vs. the women’s version that didn’t have a zipper. Mainly, I just didn’t want to mess up my hair putting on and taking off the shirt 😉

They obliged and sent the men’s version of the hoodie in small, which swallowed me up because it was too large. But it did give me a chance to photograph it before I returned it to swap with a women’s small version of the hoodie.

The men’s version has a zip front, a drawstring hood, a thin stripe on the sleeves and hood, and zip kangaroo pockets.

The women’s version shown above is similar but has two stripes on the hood, stripes on the shoulder, and zippered kangaroo pockets on the front.

A kangaroo pocket is a pocket is one large pocket across the front of the shirt. If you put both hands in the pockets, you can touch your hands together.

There’s also a pocket on the back right hip that I didn’t even know was there until I was checking product details about the hoodie on the Showers Pass site. This pocket is large enough for a small wallet or your smartphone.

The sleeves of the Trailhead hoodie have cuffs, but the waistband of the hoodie does not, which is fine by me because I don’t like waistbands on my shirts.

The tail of the shirt is slightly longer than the front edge which keeps air from blowing up your back if you have to bend over.


I have some Merino wool socks, but I’ve never had a shirt or other garment made of this material and have never had any type of clothing made of bamboo. So I was pretty curious about how it would feel. I thought it might be scratchy like other wool clothing I’ve worn in the past, but I was completely wrong about that. The 50/50 combination of Merino wool and bamboo is soft and silky with a wonderful cool to the touch feel to it.

This material will keep you warm and is moisture wicking. Merino wool is known for breathability and odor control. I’ve been wearing the hoodie off and on for a couple weeks and it smells that same as it did when I unboxed it.

Here I am wearing the women’s Trailhead hoodie in small. I’m 5’6″ and weigh 130lbs. The hoodie fits me perfectly. It’s not too tight or too baggie and it’s so comfortable that I’d like to sleep in it.

I doubt I’d ever use the kangaroo pockets, but the thin zippers zip up the pockets to hide them from view.

I’m not really a hood on my shirt kinda girl, but the hood on the Trailhead hoodie is not bulky and doesn’t get in the way. It will even fit under a bike helmet and the shirt/hoodie provides UPF 50+ protection from the sun while you’re wearing it.

What I like

  • Very comfortable
  • Natural fibers are moisture wicking and odor repellant
  • Large kangaroo pocket and small hidden pocket on the back

What needs to be improved

  • Pricey

Final thoughts

Before doing this review, I hadn’t heard of Showers Pass or their Merino wool and Bamboo apparel. Now that I have tested and worn their Trailhead Hoodie, I’m a fan of this material combination and their products. The hoodie is well made and comfortable to wear. If the price doesn’t frighten you away, it’s definitely one of those “you get what you pay for” type of products. At least that’s how I see it now. I’ll have to see how it holds up as time passes.

Price: $129.00
Where to buy: Showers Pass
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Showers Pass.

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Showers Pass Trailhead Bamboo-Merino Hoodie review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 12, 2018 at 5:03 pm.

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Save on dry-cleaning costs with the LG Styler Clothing Care System

I try to avoid buying dry clean-only clothes because it’s a pain – and expensive – to have to run things over to the dry cleaners.  And I tend to avoid wearing the dry clean-only clothes I do have for the same reasons.  With the LG Styler, you can wear your clothes and extend the time between trips to the dry cleaners, because the Styler can remove odors, reduce wrinkles, and keep clothes cleaner by sanitizing at home.  You can even use the Styler to quickly and gently dry clothes that can’t go in the clothes dryer.

The Styler looks like a tall, thin cabinet (about 72″ tall X 17.5″ wide), so it can fit in your laundry room, your closet, or even your bedroom.   It uses pure water to produce steam to clear away odors, wrinkles, bacteria, and even allergens.  LG says that 80-90 minutes in the sanitizer cycle reduces allergens and bacteria by 99.9%, which is more effective than 3 hours in sunlight.

Inside, the Styler has a moving hanging bar to vibrate clothes 180 times/minute to help reduce wrinkles and odors.  There’s also a rack for sweaters and things that don’t need a hanger, a pants press for sharp pleats, and an accessory hanger for ties, scarves, and the like.

There’s no plumbing required; you just load up the portable water container and empty the collection container as needed.  No chemicals are required for cleaning, but you can add an aroma kit to add refreshing scents onto your clothes.

The LG Styler is available in espresso or white;  MSRP is about $1800.  Learn more about the Styler and find a retailer on the LG Styler website.

Mission Workshop Icon City Pants review

I hate to say it but I am a jeans/Carhartt wearing kind of guy. I rarely have to get dressed up, for work or otherwise (if I could live in sweatpants or basketball shorts I would). I have a few pairs of reasonably nice slacks but that’s it. So, when Mission Workshop offered their new Icon City Pants I thought it would be fun to try a pair of high end, modern day trousers for a change of pace 😉 .

What is it?

The Icons are a multipurpose pair of pants designed for modern day city dwellers. Mission Workshop have engineered the Icon for work and play, made from an advanced 4-way stretch textile developed specifically for them by Mectex M.I.S. at their mill near Lake Como, Italy and manufactured in China.

According to the Mission Workshop website:

The Icon is built for foot travel, train/air travel, office work, physical labor, and all types of riding including bikes, skateboards, scooters, etc. Built to endure.

…structured drape of the fabric, combined with a forward silhouette and seam detailing, give the pant the credentials for both workplace and street.

Design and features

The Mission Workshop Icon are a charcoal gray utility pant with a modern fit and style. They have two hand pockets, knife/coin pocket, zippered right thigh pocket on the front and single (right cheek) back pocket. The cotton/nylon blend fabric used to create the Icon is engineered to have high level of durability, breathability, and freedom of movement while remaining soft yet water-resistant.

Material and construction quality:

The Icon is constructed from an Italian fabric made from 55% Cotton / 35% Polyamide / 10% Elastane. The textile has a very fine weave and the quality is excellent. The stitching and finish is also of the highest quality.

Funny story…I needed to get the pants hemmed. So instead of asking my wife to shorten their length, I went to a professional seamstress. She was surprisingly impressed with the Icon’s quality, construction, and styling.

I wish the zippered thigh pocket was a little bigger. Sadly it isn’t large enough for my iPhone X…not a chance of a phablet fitting at all. Though an iPhone SE does just barely squeezes inside.

Fit and sizing:

I was a bit worried about sizing. I usually wear a 33 waist and 34 inseam in US Levis and Carhartts. Thus Mission Workshop sizing was a bit foreign to me. So, I got out a measuring tape and did my best. I would prefer a little loose than overly tight. Overall, I hit the mark pretty well and other than length, the Icon’s fit very nicely. They’re relatively form fitting and definitely designed for a certain body type (think lean and long). If you’re not relatively skinny, the Icon’s probably won’t fit you due to the limited sizing and body ratio matrix Mission Workshop has.

Dorky as it sounds, the first comment that comes to mind when I look at this picture is: do these pants make me look fat? The Icon’s are comfortable and feel almost sweatpants-like. All the while, looking modernly professional. But the truth be told, they are more for the Gadgeteer Kid (aka the young & lean of the world)…perhaps just a bit too hipster/millennial for the 50ish crowd. That said, I did receive many unsolicited compliments regarding how nice the pants looked from family, friends, and coworkers.

The Icons can be washed in cold water and are not supposed to be tumbled dried. A cold iron can be used to press them or “gentle” dry-cleaned.

Positives

  • Excellent material & construction quality
  • Water-resistant finish
  • 4-way stretch
  • Breathable

Negatives

  • Expensive
  • Rigid/limited sizing
  • Zippered thigh pocket should be bigger

Final thoughts

While not much of a tech-toy or gadget, I really like the Icon City Pants. Mission Workshop has done an excellent job creating a high quality pair of pants that are not only comfortable but look good in the office or puttering around town. I’m debating on keeping them for myself or giving them to the Gadgeteer Kid, cause the realist in me knows how much better he would pull them off. They are without a doubt expensive but if money is no object and you’re in the market for a pair of excellent urban wear, the Icon City Pants are worth your consideration.

Price: $285
Where to buy: The Mission Workshop.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Mission Workshop.

This little iron keeps your collars looking perfect

I don’t like ironing, so I try to quickly hang up shirts as soon as the dryer buzzes so they don’t need ironing.  Sometimes, though, the shirt will look fine, but the collar just won’t lay flat, and it needs ironing anyway.  With the Compact Touch-Up and Portable Iron, you won’t have to get out the ironing board and full-sized iron just to touch up a collar.  The iron was created by a Marine to keep his uniform looking good, so you know it will work for you.

The iron has two facing heated plates that smooth out the wrinkles in a collar or sharpen up a crease.  It has angled edges so the iron can fit between buttons to smooth out that area near the neck that never seems to dry flat.  And when needed, those plates can lay flat to serve as a mini iron.

The Touch-Up Iron has six settings for various fabric types:  polyester, silk, wool, cotton, denim, and linen.  It measures 5.25″ x 3.3″ x 1.5″ and the flaps extend to 6.5″; it weighs 0.81 pounds.  It operates on 110V or 220V power.  It’s great for use at home for quick touch ups, and it’s sized perfectly to throw in your suitcase for travel.

The Compact Touch-Up and Portable Iron is $34.95 at The Grommet.

The Bosun Fleece: slick, new streetwear style from Mission Workshop

In addition to their bags, Mission Workshop produces some pretty awesome apparel that combines ready-to-rumble weather protection with sleek urban style. Don’t believe me? Check out the new Bosun Fleece jacket. The profile is all about streamlined style, combined with a shearling poly fleece for warmth and moisture management. It also sports a removable hood, zippered hand pockets, and a rear “touring style” pocket to stash things while you’re on your bike.

The Bosun Fleece retails for $265 and is available in four sizes (S-XL) in your choice of grey or black. If you dig the style, it’s in pre-sale now. Order by February 1, and you’ll get $50 off (ships on 2/16). Check it out at the Mission Workshop web site!